Five things to expect from Apple's iPhone announcement

iPhone 8 might not be the only thing on show.

Upgraders, take note: Rumours suggest Apple will be bringing out more new iPhone options than usual this fall. The company's 12 September event is expected to introduce a reimagined iPhone model for its 10th anniversary, possibly called the iPhone 8 or iPhone X (or perhaps the iPhone Edition). Two incremental iPhone upgrades - potentially named the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus - are also believed to be on the way. And a third-generation Apple Watch is most likely slated for unveiling, too.

To dig into the details, we've rounded up the key things to know about Apple's expected announcements for 12 September.

iPhone 8: Display

While the name of Apple's new top-of-the-line smartphone is uncertain, one key feature of the device - which we'll call the iPhone 8 - is a pretty sure bet based on the abundance of rumours about it. That would be the phone's display, which is rumored to be getting a total overhaul from that of past iPhone models.

The iPhone 8's expected 5.8-inch size is new, for starters. So is the fact that the display is likely to use OLED technology, which provides better colors and energy efficiency than LCD. Meanwhile, the iPhone 8 display may also get boost in resolution (to 2436 x 1125).

But perhaps most significant of all is that the iPhone 8 could be set to catch up to its key Android competitors by nearly eliminating bezels on the top and bottom of the display. That would lead to an iPhone design that is "mostly screen" on the front, which would be a striking difference from the designs for the first decade of iPhones.

iPhone 8: specs and features

Aside from the display, the other biggest changes are rumoured to be coming with the addition of wireless charging and facial recognition, and the removal of the Home Button. Reports suggest Apple is bringing inductive wireless charging to the iPhone 8, which typically uses a charging pad. The iPhone 8 isn't expected to include any sort of Home Button, with new gestures and a software bar at the bottom of the display added to replace the button's functionality. And since the Home Button has enabled fingerprint unlocking to date, there will be no such option in the iPhone 8. Instead, Apple has been working to refine facial recognition technology for authentication, which reportedly will work even in the dark or when the phone is lying flat.

Spec upgrades with the iPhone 8 are expected to include a faster new processor (the A11), improved battery life (thanks in part to the OLED display) and a dual-camera setup that can enable augmented reality usage.

iPhone 8: Price

Numerous reports and analyst predictions, including a report from The New York Times, have pegged the iPhone 8 pricing anywhere between US$1000 and US$1400. The priciest iPhone now on the market, the iPhone 7 Plus has a starting price of A$1269. Notably, however, Samsung's newest phone coming to market is not too far off - the Galaxy Note 8 has a starting price of A$1499.

iPhone 7S and 7S Plus

Apple isn't totally ready to depart from the iPhone form factor we've known for the past few years, though. Incremental successors to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are also expected to be announced on 12 September, possibly called the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus. Rumors suggest that the 7S models will share a few of the advances coming to the iPhone 8 - including wireless charging and the A11 processor. The phones may also feature glass on the back - which enables wireless charging - instead of the aluminum of the iPhone 7. But neither phone is expected to have an OLED display or lose the home button, and the iPhone 7S isn't expected to get a dual camera, either. The devices are expected to maintain the 4.7-inch display size for the 7S and the 5.5-inch display for the 7S Plus, with the usual bezels on top and bottom.

Apple Watch, Series 3

A third-generation model for the Apple Watch, the successor to last fall's Series 2, is rumoured to be arriving on 12 September. The most significant change that's expected is the ability for the new Apple Watch to connect over cellular. That would mean the wearable won't need proximity to an iPhone any longer. It may, however, force users to get another cellular plan for the LTE connectivity. There's no consensus in reports about whether the third-gen Apple Watch will receive a refreshed form factor, with rumors pointing to everything from tweaks to a major overhaul. Other changes may include battery life improvements and a new type of touch screen.

Upgraders, take note: Rumours suggest Apple will be bringing out more new iPhone options than usual this fall. The company's 12 September event is expected to introduce a reimagined iPhone model for its 10th anniversary, possibly called the iPhone 8 or iPhone X (or perhaps the iPhone Edition). Two incremental iPhone upgrades - potentially named the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus - are also believed to be on the way. And a third-generation Apple Watch is most likely slated for unveiling, too.

To dig into the details, we've rounded up the key things to know about Apple's expected announcements for 12 September.

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